Best Teachers in Portland!
We are experts in bass, drum set, guitar, mandolin, piano, songwriting, ukulele, and voice.
Renée Muzquiz
Guitar, songwriting
Renée (she/they) studied jazz and improvisation in high school, and later classical guitar at Southwestern University. Today she is the lead singer and guitarist for the Major Tomboys (her David Bowie cover band), and also hosts her own musical variety show, Renée’s Queer Cabaret. Lessons with Renée focus on setting fun and achievable goals, while also encouraging students to creatively challenge themselves to explore new musical directions. Read more…
Joseph Mammarella
Guitar, bass
Joseph (he/him) is a Portland-based guitarist who regularly performs in a number of styles ranging from jazz to rock to musical theater. Joseph earned his Bachelor of Music from Portland State University in 2019, and released his debut album “Unleashed” in July 2022. Lessons with Joseph focus on helping his students find their own unique voice on the instrument. Read more…
Katy Ohsiek
Voice, guitar, ukulele, piano
Katy (she/they) is a vocalist and songwriter with a master’s degree from Oregon State. Katy has been writing music and playing guitar since 2012, while performing with numerous local jazz, fusion, and R&B projects. Katy is the lead singer of Portland pop-disco band Foamboy, and produces bedroom pop under the moniker Katy & the Null Sets. Lessons with Katy focus on growing confidence and musicality while having fun. Read more…
Kirk Kalbfleisch
Drum set
Kirk (he/him) is a freelance drummer that performs with several touring bands including World’s Finest, Coco Columbia, and Toothbone. Originally from Las Vegas, NV, Kirk attended the University of Portland, where he continued his studies in jazz drumming. Since graduating in 2015, Kirk has been an active member of Portland’s local music scene. Kirk gives each student a strong foundation in technique, rudiments, and stick control. Read more…
Dennis Aydemir
Guitar, bass, ukulele, songwriting
Dennis (he/him) holds a bachelor’s degree from the Berklee College of Music. He began actively teaching music at the age of 13, and playing live at 14. He has toured as a guitarist in Turkey, as a solo musician in Europe and Japan, and has played for crowds of thousands. Lessons with Dennis dive into musical creativity and expression using tools such as songwriting, lyric writing, guitar harmony, learning popular songs, and more. Read more…
Harmon
Guitar, ukulele, piano, bass
Harmon (they/them) holds a bachelor’s degree in guitar performance from UC Santa Cruz. They were raised by musical parents, one a former concert promoter, and the other a children’s sing-a-long teacher. Harmon performs regularly with their jazz-punk band Blood Honey. They teach students as young as five years old. Lessons with Harmon help students develop a passion for music in a fun and energetic way. Read more…
Lisa Engleman
Voice, piano, guitar
Lisa (she/her) holds a degree in vocal performance with a minor in music education from University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She taught general music and choir for 20 years in Tampa, Florida. Lisa is a trained ballerina with a teaching certificate in Art. Musical theater is her passion which allows her to combine her love of music, dance, and drama. Lisa’s goal is to help each student discover the true artist that dwells within them. Read more…
Joseph Berman
Guitar, bass, ukulele, piano
Joseph (he/they) is an active member of the Portland music scene with a master’s degree in jazz composition from the University of Miami. Joseph can be heard performing with folk-pop outfit Robin Jackson and the Caravan, and klezmer violinist Michelle Alany. Joseph believes in taking time to get to know each student, and to develop for them a personalized course of study based on their interests and needs. Read more…
Jesse Feinstein
Piano
Jesse (he/him) has studied piano since age 4. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in jazz piano from Portland State University. He has more than a decade of experience performing jazz, classical, and salsa with many professional groups. Jesse’s lessons focus on each student’s goals, nurturing creativity and personal development. He teaches with kindness, enthusiasm, and patience–an approach well suited to both children and adults. Read more…
Hayley McCurdy
Guitar, songwriting
Hayley (she/her) is a singer/songwriter with a BFA from University of Victoria specializing in theater, voice, and sound design. Hayley’s music is featured in film, musical theater, and radio. Her debut EP ‘Hypnotize’ was released in 2016 followed by her single ‘All In Spite’ in 2017. Hayley helps beginner guitarists and songwriters develop their guitar technique and learn about story, melodic structures, hooks, and proper vocal technique. Read more…
David Elan Kelley
Guitar
David (he/him) is a singer, songwriter, composer and holds a Masters Degree in music performance from Portland State University. David has been performing and teaching music for 30 years. He writes and performs music in many styles including rock, pop, jazz, classical, folk, hip-hop, and blues. As a teacher David is patient and empathetic, and his greatest joy is when a student really “gets” the lesson they are working on. Read more…
Reb Conner
Guitar, voice, songwriting
Reb (she/her) holds a degree in music from the University of Oregon. She has a decade of experience performing live and touring internationally, including as the front-woman of High Step Society, a band that played for crowds of thousands. She plays many styles, from Bossa Nova to pop. Lessons with Reb are designed to help build confidence and challenge students to grow in whatever direction they want to go. Read more…
Ross Garlow
Bass, guitar
Ross (he/him) holds a master’s degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. Originally from Philadelphia, he spent 5 years traveling the world as a music director for major production companies and cruise lines. Ross is very active in the local music scene in Portland. Ross has a decade of experience teaching private bass and guitar lessons. Lessons with Ross focus on developing the student’s passion for and understanding of music. Read more…
Fedja Zahirovic
Guitar, bass, piano
Fedja (he/him) studied piano and guitar in his youth. He has spent 20 years performing professionally prior to earning his Bachelor’s degree in musicology and ethnomusicology from Portland State University. Lessons with Fedja focus on building fundamentals, music theory, and learning to play! He is patient, kind, and uses positive reinforcement to support his students on a path toward achieving their goals. Read more…
Brenden Ramirez
Guitar, bass, songwriting
Brenden (he/him) is a guitarist and educator based in Portland, Oregon. Brenden attended Willamette University and earned his B.A. in music with an emphasis in improvisation. Brenden is an avid songwriter and writes and records his own music under the project name “Bory.” Having experience with students of all ages and skill levels, Brenden is a patient, versatile teacher who loves to see his students grow. Read more…
Your first lesson is on us!
Follow the link to schedule your Kickstart Session, a free 30 minute lesson where we play, chat, and find out if we're a great fit.
